Loaded startlist for Tour Down Under with both National Champions and Giro d'Italia podium finisher confirmed for 2025 edition

It feels like the 2024 season ended less than couple moments ago and here we are, already setting our sights at 2025 Tour Down Under. The traditional Australian season-opener will take off in just six weeks, but many high-profile names from both men's and women's peloton have already confirmed their intentions to participate in the stage race. This includes both 2024 Road Race National Champions.

Sam Welsford carries many great memories from last year's edition as he dominated the sprints taking three victories on his Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe debut.

"I’m really looking forward to coming back to my home race to start off the season," Welsford said in a Tour Down Under media release. "It’s an event with a lot of good memories for us, particularly from this year, where we took three stages, so it will be great to be back at the Santos Tour Down Under again in 2025."

Unlike Welsford, Jayco-AlUla rider Luke Plapp didn't have a perfect home race last January. The 23-year-old was forced to abandon after heavy crash during third stage of the race.

"I’ll be hoping to defend my national road race title in Perth the week before, so that could be the perfect lead into the Santos Tour Down Under," said Plapp in a media statement from the race organisers. "Last Santos Tour Down Under didn’t quite go to plan, after I had to abandon due to a nasty crash. We’ve got a great team and I’m ready for a much better race this time around."

Also women's race can look forward to having the country's top riders at the start with defending national champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon as well as Australian cycling's legend Amanda Spratt. Both ladies triumphed in the race in the past with Spratt scoring a hat-trick between 2017 and 2019 while Roseman-Gannon came victorious of the covid-restricted 2022 edition.

In addition, former Tour de France winner and podium finisher from this year's Giro d'Italia, Geraint Thomas also plans to travel to Australia for what might be his last opportunity to participate in the race.